Archive for the ‘Family Tents’ Category
Pure Outdoor Enjoyment!
Dry and Spacious!
Late, last fall, the wife and I with friends went on a weekend camping trip to the mouth of the great Mississippi River. Through the years, while traveling, we have crossed it many times as it meandered, in its majestic glory, southward from Northwestern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Until this trip, it was difficult to fathom the river being anything but big, powerful, and terribly intimidating.
However – this great river, like most others, starts as a small stream that can be crossed by jumping over it or traversing it by stepping on existing stones sticking out of the water. There it was quiet, bubbly, and quite forgiving; the wife missed one of the stepping stones and fell flat on her backside - nothing was hurt but her pride; but, if you were to ask, she would deny the mishap - saying: Without a bridge, I walked across the Mississippi!
We enjoyed the trip immensely but realized that our camping gear was in bad need of repair or replacement. The first night it rained and our camping tents leaked. Our battery operated lanterns didn’t seem to hold the charge they should’ve. My hatchet, axe, and knives needed sharpening. The fuel can for the cooking stove had a pin-hole in it. But, considering all, those were such small inconveniences compared with the sheer enjoyment of this outdoor experience!
Tents: Err on the Side of Extra Space!
Suitable Tent-age?
As summer slowly winds to a close, any remaining chances to take the family on a camping adventure are increasingly valuable and rare. It’s best to begin planning well in advance of the departure date. A suitable tent should be among the top considerations. If you have a large family, you’ll want a structure with plenty of interior space and perhaps even a dividing wall.
Don’t be fooled by the fact that many family tents are marketed as “four-man,” “six-man” and so on. As a general rule, select a tent that sleeps one or two more people than you have along for the trip. A family of four should be on the lookout for a six-person tent, for example. Remember that you’re not likely to complain about a tent being too big and spacious. But if it’s cramped and uncomfortable, that’s a whole different story.